LONDON,
ENGLAND -- Novembre 6, 1998 -- In this week’s Lancet, two studies of a
drug called interferon ß show that the drug is effective in the treatment
of two different stages (relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive)
of multiple sclerosis (MS).

In
the PRISMS study, led by Dr George Ebers, 560 patients with relapsing-remitting
MS were randomly assigned interferon ß-1a in two different doses,
or placebo. Neurological examinations were done every three months.

The
investigators found that, "relapse rate was significantly lower" with both
doses of interferon ß-1a than with placebo.

In
the second study, from the European Study Group, led by Professor Ludwig
Kappos, 718 patients with secondary-progressive MS were randomly allocated
interferon ß-1b or placebo for up to three years.

The
investigators found that, "there was a highly significant difference in
time to confirmed progression of disability in favour of interferon ß-1b."

In
a commentary in this week’s Lancet, Dr. Donald Goodkin says, "the PRISMS
trial confirms earlier reports that interferon ß-1a reduces clinical
relapses, delays time to onset of sustained progression of disability,
and reduces the number of new MRI."

Commenting
on the study by Kappos and colleagues, Goodkin says, "interferon ß-1b
should immediately be made available for patients with secondary progressive
disease."